All's Well That Ends Well
By
William Shakespeare
Act V:
Scene 3

KING.Now, pray you, let me see it; for mine eye,While I was speaking, oft was fasten'd to it. — This ring was mine; and when I gave it HelenI bade her, if her fortunes ever stoodNecessitied to help, that by this tokenI would relieve her. Had you that craft to 'reave herOf what should stead her most?

BERTRAM.My gracious sovereign,Howe'er it pleases you to take it so,The ring was never hers.

COUNTESS.Son, on my life,I have seen her wear it; and she reckon'd itAt her life's rate.

LAFEU.I am sure I saw her wear it.

BERTRAM.You are deceiv'd, my lord; she never saw it:In Florence was it from a casement thrown me,Wrapp'd in a paper, which contain'd the nameOf her that threw it: noble she was, and thoughtI stood engag'd: but when I had subscrib'dTo mine own fortune, and inform'd her fullyI could not answer in that course of honourAs she had made the overture, she ceas'd,In heavy satisfaction, and would neverReceive the ring again.

KING.Plutus himself,That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine,Hath not in nature's mystery more scienceThan I have in this ring: 'twas mine, 'twas Helen's,Whoever gave it you. Then, if you knowThat you are well acquainted with yourself,Confess 'twas hers, and by what rough enforcementYou got it from her: she call'd the saints to suretyThat she would never put it from her fingerUnless she gave it to yourself in bed, — Where you have never come, — or sent it usUpon her great disaster.

BERTRAM.She never saw it.

KING.Thou speak'st it falsely, as I love mine honour;And mak'st conjectural fears to come into meWhich I would fain shut out. If it should proveThat thou art so inhuman, — 'twill not prove so: — And yet I know not: — thou didst hate her deadly.And she is dead; which nothing, but to closeHer eyes myself, could win me to believeMore than to see this ring. — Take him away.

BERTRAM.If you shall proveThis ring was ever hers, you shall as easyProve that I husbanded her bed in Florence,Where she yet never was.

[Exit, guarded.]

KING.I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings.

[Enter a Gentleman.]

GENTLEMAN.Gracious sovereign,Whether I have been to blame or no, I know not:Here's a petition from a Florentine,Who hath, for four or five removes, come shortTo tender it herself. I undertook it,Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speechOf the poor suppliant, who by this, I know,Is here attending: her business looks in herWith an importing visage; and she told meIn a sweet verbal brief, it did concernYour highness with herself.

KING.[Reads.] 'Upon his many protestations to marry me, when his wifewas dead, I blush to say it, he won me. Now is the countRousillon a widower; his vows are forfeited to me, and myhonour's paid to him. He stole from Florence, taking no leave,and I follow him to his country for justice: grant it me, O king;in you it best lies; otherwise a seducer flourishes, and a poormaid is undone. DIANA CAPULET.'

LAFEU.I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair, and toll this: I'll none ofhim.

KING.The heavens have thought well on thee, Lafeu,To bring forth this discovery. — Seek these suitors: — Go speedily, and bring again the count.

[Exeunt Gentleman, and some Attendants.]

I am afeard the life of Helen, lady,Was foully snatch'd.

COUNTESS.Now, justice on the doers!

[Enter BERTRAM, guarded.]

KING.I wonder, sir, since wives are monsters to you.And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,Yet you desire to marry. — What woman's that?